Two charged with obstruction of justice in Waltham pedestrian death case

Comment

By Eli Shermanesherman@wickedlocal.com

Wicked Local Waltham

By Eli Shermanesherman@wickedlocal.com

Posted Aug. 5, 2014 at 5:55 PM

By Eli Shermanesherman@wickedlocal.com

Posted Aug. 5, 2014 at 5:55 PM

WALTHAM

» Social News

Blanca Contreras, exonerated earlier this year of hitting and killing a Waltham man in 2011, was arraigned Tuesday in superior court for "gaming the system" with her boyfriend William Vasquez, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan says.

Contreras was arrested in 2011 and charged with vehicular homicide – among other charges – after police alleged she fatally struck Scott Coxall with an SUV at the intersection of School and Church streets.

A jury found her not guilty of all charges earlier this year after Vasquez took the witness stand and said he was the driver and culpable of the crimes. Ryan, on Tuesday, said that despite Vasquez’s testimony, the evidence gathered by her office still suggested that Contreras was the driver and the duo had pulled the wool over the eyes of the justice system.

"The allegations are that these individuals – both Vasquez and Contreras – conspired to mislead authorities," Ryan said.

Contreras and Vasquez are both charged with one count of intimidating a witness (obstruction of justice).

After the incident, Contreras confessed to driving the car, according to video evidence shown during her trial, but Vasquez – who is also the father of their 5-year-old son – turned himself in four months later saying he was the guilty one.

Prosecutors, however, pushed forward with their evidence and tried Contreras in April. Vasquez again confessed on the stand, saying he was the driver and had pressured Contreras into blaming herself.

Since Contreras’ acquittal, Ryan said, her team has reviewed the case, gone through sworn testimony and readjusted their strategy.

"Based on all of that, the decision was made to bring these charges," Ryan said. "The other version of the story, presented by Ms. Contreras and Mr. Vasquez, was an attempt to manipulate the investigation."

Thomas Coxall, Scott’s father, spoke out after Contreras was acquitted, calling for justice for his son’s death. He went to Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn for the arraignment on Tuesday and later said he was glad there was still life in the case.

"Hopefully we’ll have some sort of conviction for one or two of them," Coxall said. "A little justice for Scott, anyways."

Attorney Gerard Walsh represented Contreras during her trial and was in court Tuesday to represent her again. He could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

The two will be tried together, for now, Ryan said. They were released on their own recognizance with the condition that they surrender their passports. They are due back in court for a pretrial hearing on Sept. 25.